Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-10-28

finities,p "kindred souls" ''foolish
barriers of legal and social restric'
tion," and like topics, nearly all OF
which were as Greek to the simple
minded little wife, though she had
an indefnable, uncomfortable feel
| ing that it wasn't nice or entirely
proper.
Dick seemed more and more IN
fatuated with the new doctrine; &C.
casionally he would appear cold or
slightly neglected. of some atten-
ton, and 1t worried her more than
a little.
Then he began eagerly to inquire
when Catty was coming, to urge
his wife to write and hurry her SIS
ter's arrival. And Minnie wonder
ed and fretted still more.
At last, one day, during Dicks
absence from home, Catty came
When Richard met her on his re-
turn his greeting was more than
brotherly. He vowed she should
have written him so he could have
met her with the carriage, and he
actually kissed and embraced her,
while his wife stood by, wholly
overlooked, wide-eyed, and feeling
she didn't exactly know how, but
paralyzed with establishment and
something.
After that Dick was the most at
tentive, the most devoted; II he
hadn't been married, any one might,
could. would, and should have said,
slower to the ugly spinster," while
his was left to amuse and console
herself as best she could. In i'll
fitting, horribly mixed, cheap, and
tawdry finery, Uatty was "beaued'
by Dick to theaters, operas, fairs,
picture and flower shows, and every
place of entertainment. lie lnya-
riably had only "twO" tickets for
these and his wife was each time
quietly ignored with the remark;
"You know you don't care for
such things, Mlnnie,'-and she,
poor little soul, would sigh and say
nothing.
When there was no sightseeing
of an evening, Dick insisted on Cat
ty's seating herself at the piano,
and while she would maui the keys
and murder the vocallzation, he
hung over her in rapture, until
| Minnie, who had a sweet little voice,
that her husband used to say was
essence of sOul.music, sat trembling
with jealousy and "reminiscences.
Catty assumed more high and
mighty airs than ever, ruled the
house, patrOnized with a plying
sort of manner, her sister, and Or
dered Dick around like slave.
Such "eoin's onr could not last.
They didn't.
Little Minnie had plenty of spirit
in her makeup, only she had not
known 1T until her wifely feelings
we're outraged so continually and
obnOxiOusly.
Catty's visit had extended into
its third week, when, one night
after return from the opera of the
ancient and her husband, she saw
the latter embrace her sister in the
hall and imprint a sounding kiss
on the thin, willing lips, he not
seeming to care if his wife were
within sight or hearing.
Mrs. Richard Thornton, little
later, visited her sisters room,
where that lady was just about
"doing" the thin whisp of dry-straw-
like, miIl.dewed. colored thatch she
called her back hair.
What passed in that room, what
was said, what and who "fiew
around" and upset things, and
what sort of a cyclonic blizzard
swirled about that apartment, we
would not picture even if pen could
do the matter Justice. Minnie came
to Dicks side, in tears and aglta-
ton. The spinster after several
yelps for "Dick! Richard Dear
Dick :" TO "save her from this fury"
subsidized sufficiently to be inaudi-
bic through the doors aud parti-
tons.
Dick must have slept like all of
the seven sleepers to be unconscious
of the racket. Bot he was in bed
through it all and never moved eye
or limb. He was up and away very
early in the morning when he re-
turned that evening Catty was gone,
bag and baggage. She, the short
haired woman, or the 1Ong-haired
man, have never entered Dicks
home since he has never mention
ed affintles or growled at social
restrictions. Twenty-four hours of
the old loving, tender ways and
words restored Minnie to her former
confidence in her husband, to a
peace and perfect happiness, that
has never again suffered the slight
est shock.
Perhaps the dear little woman,
grown more worldly wise, guesses
that Dick was "playing game on
her." but no sign has she shown of
her knowledge or belief.
And Richard, when he meets an
unfortunate friend in like or some